mg.dictatorofcrime-第6部分

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　　Dropping　his　cloak　from　his　shoulders　and　removing　his　slouch　hat；　The　Shadow　picked　up　a　cap　that　the　cabby　had　neglected　to　take　when　he　bolted。
　　Police　certainly　wouldn't　question　an　empty　cab；　driven　by　a　man　who　wore　a　uniform　cap；　when　it　came　to　the　northern　barricade。　The　Shadow　would　simply　claim　that　he　was　answering　a　call　from　Golden　Beach；　a　few　miles　north；　along　the　strip　of　land　that　separated　the　ocean　from　the　bay。
　　Again；　The　Shadow　laughed；　this　time　in　anticipation　of　a　task　that　might　amend　the　opportunities　that　freakish　luck　had　turned　to　crime's　advantage。
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VI　
　　　MARGO　TAKES　A　TRIP　
　　THE　roadster　was　making　rapid　time　along　the　beach　road　leading　north。
　　Nayre　was　insistent　upon　speed；　and　Margo　wasn't　in　a　mood　to　disagree；　not　while　the　pressure　of　a　cold　gun　muzzle　was　so　constant。
　　Nayre　had　a　casual　way　of　easing　pressure　and　applying　it　again。　Sometimes　he　shifted　the　muzzle；　so　that　Margo　wouldn't　merely　imagine　that　she　felt　it。
　　How　many　miles　they'd　gone；　Margo　couldn't　guess。　She　was　just　beginning　to　think　about　the　speedometer；　for　future　reference；　when　Nayre　gave　another　nudge　with　the　gun。　Coolly；　yet　with　a　tone　of　politeness；　he　said：
　　〃Turn　in　there。〃
　　By　〃there；〃　Nayre　meant　a　sand　road　at　the　left　of　the　highway。　Margo　applied　the　brakes　and　made　the　turn。
　　As　she　did；　she　saw　a　building　that　looked　something　like　an　office；　though　it　was　in　ramshackle　condition。　It　was　topped　by　a　sign　that　could　be　read　in　the　moonlight；　even　though　the　painting　was　faded。　The　sign　read：　FIVE　DOLLARS　AND　UP。
　　Nayre　told　Margo　to　stop　the　car　as　they　rounded　the　building。　Obeying；　the　girl　saw　another　ancient　structure；　that　looked　something　like　an　airplane　hangar。
　　Nayre　turned　off　the　ignition；　but　left　the　key　in　the　lock；　though　it　wasn't　any　help。　As　he　opened　the　door　on　his　side；　he　beckoned　with　his　revolver　and　said：
　　〃e　along。〃
　　At　least；　the　sand　was　thick　underfoot；　and　therefore　soft　to　her　bare　feet；　as　Margo　walked　to　the　old　office　building；　Nayre　keeping　close　beside　her。　There；　Nayre　knocked；　and　the　door　was　opened　by　a　dull…faced　man　who　held　a　lantern。　Nayre　didn't　introduce　himself。　He　merely　questioned：
　　〃Where's　Brady？〃
　　〃Over　at　his　cottage；〃　the　man　drawled　sleepily。　〃Want　me　to　get　him？〃
　　〃Yes。　Hurry。〃
　　Hanging　the　lantern　on　a　beam；　the　dull…faced　man　took　a　dim　flashlight　in　its　place　and　departed。　Margo　could　scarcely　see　the　flashlight's　beam　in　the　moonlight。　She　was　watching　the　man　walk　over　toward　the　beach；　when　Nayre's　revolver　supplied　another　reminder。　Again；　his　order　was　brief：
　　〃e　inside。〃
　　The　room　they　entered　was　an　office；　as　Margo　expected。　Nayre　motioned　her　to　a　cushioned　chair；　the　only　one　of　its　sort；　and　sat　down　on　the　desk。
　　Pocketing　the　revolver；　Nayre　eyed　Margo　quite　steadily。
　　〃If　you　don't　know　who　I　am；〃　he　said；　〃my　name　is　Colin　Nayre。　I　came　in　with　the　bunch　from　Centralba。〃
　　Margo　nodded。　Nayre　quizzed：
　　〃And　your　name？〃
　　Margo　gave　it；　wherewith；　Nayre　furnished　a　reassuring　smile。
　　〃Sorry　I　had　to　inconvenience　you；　Miss　Lane；〃　he　declared；　〃but　I　was　in　a　big　hurry。　There　was　a　lot　of　shooting　going　on；　and　the　police　seemed　to　think　that　I'd　taken　a　hand　on　the　wrong　side。〃
　　〃Which　side　was　that？〃　queried　Margo。　〃I　really　don't　know　very　much　about　it。〃
　　〃Let　me　explain　what　happened；〃　suggested　Nayre。　〃A　crowd　of　crooks　showed　up　and　grabbed　the　cash　that　we'd　brought　in　from　Centralba。〃
　　〃And　you　sided　with　your　friends；　of　course。〃
　　〃Yes；　with　my　friends。〃　Nayre's　clear　eyes　took　a　meditative　expression。
　　〃If　you　can　call　them　such。　Anyway；　they're　all　dead；　Jose　Durez　and　his　friends。　I　suppose　I'll　e　in　for　blame；　because　they　lost　their　cash　before　they　died。〃
　　
　　
　　QUITE　apparently；　Nayre　was　watching　for　Margo's　reaction。　Inwardly；　she　was　rather　shocked　to　learn　that　murder　had　been　acplished。　However；　Margo　was　able　to　feign　indifference。
　　She　asked　Nayre　if　he　had　a　cigarette；　remarking　that　she'd　left　her　own　in　a　pocket　of　her　bathing　robe。　Nayre　produced　cigarettes；　gave　Margo　one；　and　took　another　for　himself。
　　〃You've　heard　about　this　Centralba　business；〃　said　Nayre　dryly；　〃or　you　wouldn't　take　it　so　indifferently。　Tell　me：　does　it　strike　you　oddly？〃
　　Margo　nodded。　She　admitted　that　she　couldn't　understand　why　a　dictator　like　Luis　Castenago　had　allowed　an　opponent　of　Jose　Durez's　caliber　to　go　free；　with　his　friends；　and　take　along　the　profits　from　their　previous　concession。　Her　stress　of　the　word　〃friends〃　caught　Nayre's　attention。
　　〃I　suppose　you're　wondering　why　I　was　tied　up　with　Durez　and　his　crowd；〃
　　remarked　Nayre。　〃The　answer　is　simple：　I　wasn't。　To　answer　another　question　that　may　be　in　your　mind；　I'm　not　a　double…crosser；　and　never　was。〃
　　〃Then　how…〃
　　〃How　did　I　get　mixed　in　it？〃　interposed　Nayre。　〃Very　easily。　I　was　the　man　who　organized　the　presidential　guards　under　the　old　regime；　when　Centralba　really　was　a　republic。　I　mean　when　Francisco　Peridor　was　president。〃
　　〃So　you　stayed　when　Castenago　took　over？〃
　　〃Yes。　Peridor　suggested　it。　He　said　that　Castenago's　election　was　legal；　which　it　happened　to　be；　the　way　they　run　elections　down　there。　The　first　man　who　gets　to　the　polls　has　the　privilege　of　counting　the　votes；　and　Castenago　had　his　men　first；　everywhere。
　　〃Castenago　wanted　me　to　keep　my　job　as　captain　of　the　guard；　and　when　Peridor　advised　it；　I　did。　I　hated　it　the　longer　it　continued；　and　was　ready　to　quit　when　the　Durez　faction　bobbed　up。　When　everything　smacked　of　revolution；　they　suddenly　showed　up　at　the　presidential　palace；　bringing　Peridor　with　them。
　　A　really　fine　gentleman；　Francisco　Peridor。〃
　　Nayre　was　staring　into　space；　so　ardently　that　Margo　felt　sure　she　could　reach　the　door　without　him　noticing　her　departure。　The　opportunity　tempted　her；
　　but　she　didn't　take　it。　Nayre　had　spoken　frankly；　and　said　enough　to　convince　her　that　he　was　quite　as　decent　a　chap　as　she　supposed。
　　Therefore；　she　wasn't　worried；　and　by　remaining；　she　might　learn　some　real　inside　facts　that　Lamont　Cranston　would　like　to　know。
　　Facts　for　The　Shadow！
　　〃Peridor　was　grand；〃　declared　Nayre；　in　a　tone　of　recollection。　〃He　told　Castenago　that　he　sided　with　the　Durez　faction　because　they　wanted　reform　in　Centralba。　It　amazed　me；　the　way　Castenago　listened　and　the　promise　he　offered。　He　said　he　would　institute　every　reform　that　Peridor　wanted；　if　Jose　Durez　would　leave　the　country　and　take　his　friends　with　him。
　　〃Of　course；　they　hedged；　until　Castenago　became　generous。　He　insisted　on　that　one　point：　they　would　have　to　leave；　as　a　token　of　good　faith。　So　they　began　talking　terms　regarding　their　concessions。
　　〃He　granted　everything　they　asked；　provided　that　they　get　out。　So　they　did；　and　I　had　to　e　with　them；　because；　by　then；　Castenago　classed　me　as　a　member　of　their　group。
　　〃Funny；　isn't　it？〃　Nayre　shook　his　head。　〃All　during　the　Clipper　trip；　Durez　and　his　crowd　were　congratulating　themselves　on　how　they　had　outsmarted　Castenago。　They　were　talking　about　using　a　chunk　of　that　ten　million　dollars　to　smuggle　arms　into　Centralba　and　start　a　real　revolution。
　　〃They　wanted　me　in　on　the　deal；　and　I　had　to　listen；　though　I　didn't　like　it。　Then；　when　they　arrived　here；　they　were　knocked　off　by　a　bunch　of　American　crooks。〃
　　Nayre　tamped　his　cigarette　in　an　ash　tray　and　rose　from　his　perch　on　the　desk。　Looking　at　Margo　again；　he　saw　sympathy　in　her　gaze。
　　〃Frankly；　Miss　Lane；〃　he　said；　〃I　can't　say　that　I'm　sorry。　Durez　and　his　friends　got　just　what　Castenago　would　have　given　them　had　it　not　been　for　Peridor；　the　only　honest　man　in　Centralba。　I　can　only　state　that　I　had　no　hand　in　it。〃
　　Margo　nodded；　indicating　that　she　believed　everything　that　Nayre　had　said。
　　He　was　still　watching　her；　intently；　when　an　interruption　came。　The　door　opened　and　a　stolid　man　with　a　weather…beaten　face　stepped　into　the　dilapidated　office；　extending　a　hand　to　Nayre。
　　
　　
　　〃RATHER　quick　notice；　Nayre；〃　he　greeted。　〃I　didn't　think　you'd　be　needing　me　so　soon。〃
　　〃There's　been　trouble；　Brady；〃　Nayre　returned。　〃Durez　and　his　crowd　were　wiped　out　by　a　lot　of　crooks；　who　took　their　money。　I　couldn't　afford　to　stay　about　and　argue　with　the　police。〃
　　〃They're　after　you？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure。〃　Nayre　turned。　〃By　the　way；　Brady；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　my　friend；　Miss　Lane。　She　brought　me　out　here。〃
　　Brady　gave　Margo　an　impersonal　stare；　and　nodded。　He　didn't　seem　to　regard　it　as　remarkable　that　Nayre　had　been　chauffeured　by　a　young　lady　fresh　from　a　swimming　pool；　as　Margo's　ultra　bathing　costume　indicated。
　　Indeed；　Margo　received　the　impression　that　Brady　wouldn't　have　been　surprised　if　Nayre　had　shown　up　on　a　dolphin　piloted　by　a　mermaid。
　　Evidently；　the　two　were　old　friends；　and　Brady　had　been　expecting　Nayre's　arrival　in　Miami。　For　the　present；　that　point　was　merely　indicated　by　their　mutual　accord。　Brady；　in　his　stolid　way；　was　more　interested　in　Nayre's　statements　concerning　the　police。
　　Stepping　to　a　radio　cabinet；　Brady　pressed　the　switch。　He　struck　a　very　appropriate　broadcast；　a　news　program；　that　was　suddenly　interrupted。
　　〃Flash！〃　came　a　voice。　〃Miami　Beach　police　are　seeking　the　perpetrators　of　the　most　stupendous　crime　in　years。　Tonight；　unknown　criminals　raided　the　Equator　Hotel；　murdered　Colonel　Jose　Durez；　with　three　other　members　of　his　faction；　and　took　coffers　containing　ten　million　dollars　which　the　dead　men　brought　from　Centralba。
　　〃Police　believe　that　a　tip…off　enabled　the　criminals　to　acplish　their　work。　Though　the　murderers　escaped　by　water；　from　Miami　Beach；　the　authorities　are　still　searching　for　a　man　named　Colin　Nayre；　who　disappeared　with　them。
　　Evidence　indicates　that　Nayre　could　have　informed　the　local　criminals　of　every　move　that　Durez　intended…〃
　　It　was　Nayre　who　interrupted　the　broadcast；　by　snapping　off　the　switch。
　　His　face　seemed　frozen　as　he　looked　toward　Brady；　who　said　nothing。　It　was　Nayre　who　finally　spoke。
　　〃They've　figured　it　all　out；〃　he　declared　glumly。　〃Just　as　I　expected：　I'm
　　the　goat！〃
　　〃Lucky　you　told　me　to